Your round-up of the latest, greatest data stories

Hello ODI Supporter,

Apple has pulled its high level data security tool for UK users after the government demanded access to user data. The UK government asked for the right to access users’ data, covered by Apple’s Advanced Data Protection (ADP) end-to-end encryption tool. Apple themselves don’t have access to this data, and have consistently opposed creating a ‘backdoor’, which they say could in time be exploited by bad actors. Data with standard encryption can be accessed by Apple, and shared with law enforcement agencies if they have a warrant. But the ADP service is opt-in, and rather than comply with the UK government’s request, new users in the UK have been prevented from signing up while existing users will lose their access at a later date. The director of US National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, voiced her concern at not being informed in advance about the UK government’s demand, learning about the news in the media, rather than from either the UK or Apple. Gabbard also said the US is examining whether the UK government had violated the CLOUD Act, an agreement between the two countries that bars either from demanding data from each other’s citizens. So there was plenty to talk about when the leaders of both countries met for talks in Washington yesterday. Not sure this came up though.

New research by UC Riverside and Caltech claimed this week that the growth of data centre usage by big tech firms has created related public costs of more than $5.4 billion in the last five years.  The energy demands of data centres have led to air pollution linked to cancers, asthma, and other related issues, according to the researchers. The rise of AI and its enormous appetite for energy is set to exacerbate the issue. The findings were derived from a modelling tool from the US Environment Protection Agency, and estimated Google generated the largest health costs, followed by Microsoft and Meta. Amazon was not included in the study as they do not release the data needed to model their impact. News also emerged this week that Microsoft has torn up leases for data centres in the US and scaled back international expansion, amid fears there could be an oversupply issue in the data centre market, with some analysts speculating there could be lower demand, especially following lacklustre quarterly results from cloud companies. 

More than 1,000 musicians released a protest album this week at the UK government’s planned changes to copyright law which they fear will make it easier for AI companies to train models on copyrighted material without a licence. Artists including Kate Bush and Damon Albarn (but not John Cage, he composed 4’33” of silence in 1952) released a silent album called Is This What We Want? featuring sound recordings of empty studios and performance spaces to draw attention to the potential impact on livelihoods and the UK music industry. During his trip to Washington, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told journalists he’d look at responses to the AI consultation and review concerns raised by musicians before pressing ahead with plans. 

There’s still time to get your tickets for a special event we’re hosting next week with our Executive Chair and Co-founder Sir Nigel Shadbolt. He’ll be delving into the critical issues shaping data and AI with our Director of Global Policy and Corporate Affairs, Emma Thwaites. The event is on Thursday 6 March 16:00-17:00 GMT, so get your tickets now. 

And finally this week…you may have seen some AI-generated videos depicting people waking up in different historical contexts that have gone viral in recent weeks on social media. But how accurate are they? Well, judging by the railway tracks running through a 14th century plague-ridden street scene, not very. Didn’t stop it racking up 53 millions views though. Another video recreating the eruption of Mount Vesuvius came up short in the accuracy stakes, and given Pliny the Younger’s eyewitness account, it’s not like we’re short of material. However, with a new translation of a 2,000 year old book on Roman emperors riding high in the bestsellers chart, it shows there are plenty of sources for anybody wanting to think about the Roman Empire a little bit more than usual. It’s just horses for (Circus Maximus) courses… 

Until next time. 

David and Jo

From the outside world

Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row

BBC
Apple is taking the unprecedented step of removing its highest level data security tool from customers in the UK, after the government demanded access to user data.

What Apple pulling Advanced Data Protection means for you

BBC

Apple has made headlines by pulling its most advanced data security tool for UK customers.

US intelligence head 'not told' about UK's secret Apple data demand

BBC

Tulsi Gabbard, the director of US National Intelligence, says she was not informed in advance about the UK government's demand to be able to access Apple customers' encrypted data from anywhere in the world.

US examining whether UK's encryption demand on Apple broke data treaty

Reuters

U.S. officials are examining whether the UK broke a bilateral agreement by reportedly demanding that Apple build a "backdoor" allowing the British government to access backups of data in the company's encrypted cloud storage systems.

Pollution from Big Tech’s data centre boom costs US public health $5.4bn

Financial Times

Big Tech's growing use of data centres has created related public health costs valued at more than $5.4bn over the past five years,...

Microsoft data center leases slowing, analysts say, raising investor attention

Reuters

An analyst note flagging a possible slowdown by Microsoft in leasing data center capacity grabbed the market's attention on Monday, lending credence to skepticism among investors worried that the AI-led stock-market boom might be running out of steam.

Artists release silent album in protest against AI using their work

BBC

More than 1,000 musicians - including Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn and Kate Bush - released a silent album on Tuesday in protest at the UK government's planned changes to copyright law, which they say would make it easier for AI companies to train models using copyrighted work without a licence.

Starmer pledges to review AI plans after musicians and artists warn they face being ripped off

The Independent

Pop legends Elton John and Paul McCartney are among a host of artists warning that proposed changes to copyright law could make it impossible for creatives to earn a living.

'Amateur and dangerous': Historians weigh in on viral AI history videos

BBC

Imagine waking up in Rome 2,000 years ago, on the Nile in ancient Egypt or on the streets of London during the Black Death in the 1300s - complete with realistic sights, sounds and daily struggles.

2,000-year-old book about Roman emperors enters bestseller charts

The Guardian

The Lives of the Caesars, translated from Latin by The Rest Is History podcast co-host Tom Holland, details everything from ancient policy failures to sex scandals.

From the ODI

Sir Nigel Shadbolt in conversation

Free webinar Thursday 6 Mar 2025 16:00, book now 

Join us for a special event featuring Sir Nigel Shadbolt, a renowned expert in artificial intelligence, as he delves into the critical issues shaping data and AI today. The webinar will be chaired by Emma Thwaites, Director of Global Policy and Corporate Affairs.

TBI's vision for a National Data Library: an ambitious approach

The National Data Library represents a significant opportunity to position the UK as a leader in responsible, high-value use of public sector data.

Data-centric AI webinar #8: optimising AI for sensitive industries

Wednesday 19 March 2025, book now 

Join us for a deep dive into how AI can be used for industries with strict data regulations at our Data-centric AI webinar.

Data Ethics Professional webinar #3: Consent Management Platforms (CMPs)

Monday 25 Mar 2025, 12 noon, book now 

This free webinar explores the ethical implementation of Consent Management Platforms (CMPs).

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